Lone Star Book Blog Tour: Washed in the Blood by Shelton L. Williams (review and giveaway)

Washed in the Blood by Shelton L. Williams is a haunting memoir/biography of the events before, during, and after a murderous suicide, dubbed the Kiss and Kill Murder, in Odessa, Texas, in the early 1960s. What really happened to Betty Jean Williams out at that stock pond? Did she really ask her so-called boyfriend, Mack Herring, to kill her? Was this a murder or a suicide, or maybe both? Shelton “Shelly” Williams knew Betty and all the other players in this story because he was there. He is Betty’s younger cousin, and many years after that fateful circumstance and subsequent trials, Shelly wanted to describe what he remembered and interview others, perhaps finally allowing his cousin to find some peace and maybe offering a little glimpse into who she really was during her short life.

The author’s descriptive account of people and events from so many years ago reads more like a gripping fiction, but it is, in fact, a thrilling true-life account of a young girl’s life and death, complete with photos, first-hand contributions, the author’s familial connection and recollections, plenty of court room drama, Betty’s own writings, and a watery crime scene called Dead Girl’s Pond that can still be visited today near Odessa, Texas. Who was Betty Williams, and why did she want to die at the tender age of 17? What kind of person would agree to kill her at her request, knowing he would face the consequences of murder? Does Betty’s ghost still haunt the high school she attended in Odessa, specifically the theatre and maybe the field house?

Shelly attempts to answer all these questions, and more, in this well-written tribute to his cousin, friend, and confidante, whom he still misses to this day. “Dear Betty, I miss our talks in the old Oldsmobile.”

As a prolific reader of almost all genres, I have long held a macabre fascination with true crime, and while Washed in the Blood is more of a biography and not the standard true crime story, it is now a memorable and eerie addition to my collection. A crime was committed, and a young girl ended up in a way too-early grave, leaving more questions than answers. Shelly presents a truly heartbreaking tale about a teenage girl who was often too promiscuous for such a small community to handle and who had big dreams of becoming an actress far away from Odessa, Texas, and her troubled household. According to Shelly, Betty had real acting talent, a clear and steady worldview, and the desire to be liked and taken seriously as a woman and an actress. Unfortunately, most in her community, high school, and family either didn’t see any of this about Betty or refused to see it. Shelly seemed to know Betty quite well, but even he didn’t know how badly she wanted to die or why.

“The court proceedings made her into a different person―a sad, despondent, weird person―and who she really was seemed lost forever. Slowly, over time, a more balanced view of Betty is coming into view.”

Shelly’s writing style is a great mix of serious and humorous, even in such a dark tale as Washed in the Blood. The author obviously wanted and needed to tell this story, for himself and perhaps for teenagers struggling with the label of social pariah. Betty’s story is a cautionary tale and a type of eulogy for a young girl who chose to achieve her dreams of reaching the stars through death rather than living out her earthly potential. In death, Betty remains a shining star to the people who remember her and to those who read this remarkable memoir/biography or venture to Odessa in West Texas, where they can still hear all about Ghost Betty and maybe even see her if the timing is just right.

Washed in the Blood is a great non-fiction, and it is not the first book Shelly has published that takes place in West Texas, specifically Odessa. The author has written a mystery series about the clever, fictive Covey Jencks and his many escapades that you don’t want to miss, especially since these stories mention the Kiss and Kill Murder. Shelton L. Williams knows West Texas and isn’t afraid to write entertaining stories about it, both fact and fiction.

Enter the giveaway below on or before May 21, 2022, for a chance to win a print, audio, or eBook copy of Washed in the Blood by Shelton L. Williams.

I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.